Completed NEA for Moderation

 Dear Moderator, 

 

My name is Robert Nuszkiewicz. Welcome to my A Level Media Studies blog. This is a record of the work I have undertaken for the Making Media Non-examination Assessment (NEA) within the OCR H409 GCE A Level course in Media Studies. 

 

I worked independently on Brief 3: Magazine and Online to produce the front covers and contents pages for the first two editions of a music magazine called Jitterbug. together with the magazine's accompanying website. My music magazine is published by the independent publishing company RNZ publishing and covers electronic dance music

 

Further down in my blog you will find evidence of my research and planning for this task.

 

I have inserted jpegs of my magazine's first edition cover and contents page below.

I have inserted jpegs of my magazine's second edition and contents page below.

 

The link to my website, which was created using Wix, can be found at the link below. 

Jitterbug Magazine

The magazine consists of a homepage and a single linked page. The linked page can be accessed by clicking on "About Us". To return to the main page, press the Masthead

 

Production Task One : Photography

 For my NEA i have taken pictures of my models to place on the front covers and contents pages. I will only use the best ones as its clear some didn't come out the best

These are the pictures for my first edition

These are the pictures for my second edition

Production task 2 : Production log

Website

Current layout of my homepage top.

Social media links part way down the page to encourage readers to interact with the magazine

An option to subscribe to the website to keep up to date on new stories. Hyperlinked from the top of the page

Main area for stories and articles for my website.

Website footer: Contact detail, more information about Jitterbug, and its copyright. I generated a fake phone number using the internet for this section, wrote a fake email and created "RNZ Publishing" to fit the brief of an independent publisher.

When clicking on the "About Us" hyperlink at the top of the website, it will take you here, a new page which will include an audio-visual element- a video detailing what my magazine is all about.

Pressing the coverline or strapline text will return you to the main webpage.

Magazine

I have been using photoshop to create my magazine covers and contents pages.

To keep everything organised I use folders for easy navigation.

 

To match the website I used a black, white, and electric yellow colour-scheme to match my theme.
In addition, I added a black backboard for the masthead and slogan to add contrast with the background but also, it mimics the red used in many magazine headers.

Planning Task 8 : Photography Planning

I will be taking the pictures myself with others standing in as my models, representing my different social groups by having one male, one female. I will just use my phone for taking the pictures because modern phone cameras are very good for taking photographs.

Magazine 1

For my first front cover, I will take pictures indoors, in a plain-coloured room, potentially white with artificial lighting. It will be a top-down angle with dark clothing to contrast the brightness of the white room with the subject looking towards the camera. Other pictures I will take will include the same picture but with the subject looking past the camera and looking away. I will also try a lower shot, with the subject sitting down, looking away from the camera- creating a semi-candid look.

Magazine 2

For my second cover, I will photograph my male model who is standing in for Martin Garrix in an outdoor setting to ensure the set brief is met with different settings. The model will stand against a tree, having the tree and model in focus, with the rest of the background out of focus to drive the viewers attention to the focal point. The model will look towards the camera, and looking down in another picture. To fit this theme, the lighting will be entirely natural. 

My best image will be used as the front cover image, and use 3 others in my contents page. I will need to take more photographs for my second magazine to use on my website as it will be my more recent issue.

Planning Task 7 : Website Homepage and Linked Page

Header

The header of my magazine will feature the masthead for my magazine in a large, bold font with the strapline below it. On the header there will be a variety of buttons that would hyperlink you to different parts of the website as well as a button urging users to subscribe to the website. One button will redirect the user to the page with an exclusive interview matching the content of the second front page.

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Content

For the content of my website I will use coverlines from the second edition of the magazine, which I will plan to make the Martin Garrix edition. I will also include exclusive coverlines on the website to attract more people. The homepage will feature images from other contents within the magazine to advertise the other stories and content to readers.

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Audio-visual

For my audio-visual content I will record a video interview with my model for Garrix who will be on the front page of the second edition of my magazine. It will be scripted and be a head-shot with an outside background to link to the front page of the magazine issue which will also be set outside.

Planning Task 4 : Front Cover Design

Coverlines

"Up and coming"- good coverline for a brand new music magazine. double entendre for artists.

"Meeting Martin Garrix"- "meeting" would be in smaller font to place emphasis on the artist. Have a photo of someone to model as Garrix.

"Rising Sparks"- play on the term Rising stars with an electronic twist.

Having one named artist and one ambiguous allows for anyone to be pictured in one of the covers to complete the different demographic criteria in the set brief.

Some ideas for other coverlines are:

"Aspiring artists, how to keep an audience." as a kicker and a teaser. 

"Musical madness- the greatest hits of this year."

Main Images

I will use two different models, my friends Jack B and Tamsin G, on separate covers for the "different social groups" requirement- being different genders. One picture will be taken inside and one will be outside to show different mise-en-scene. The indoor shot will be well lit on a plain background. the outdoor shot will be during the day, more towards the afternoon. The mood will be more nonchalant and serious. Front covers are head and mid shots, usually with direct address. I will follow the conventions by using these shot types in my photography.

Other Page Furniture

Puffs

 "NEW!" on first edition

"Free poster inside" on both editions. this was requested by my target audience.

Content Plugs

Names of artists. Above the masthead, or at the bottom of the page (will depend on my front cover composition. when I design it

Date and price line

Written in smaller font next to the masthead of the magazine.

Barcode

Bottom of the page, left side of the page- common place on other magazines so I will use the same area.

Planning Task Three : Masthead Design

 I have made some conceptual designs for my magazine's masthead and strapline using Adobe Photoshop.

The first masthead uses Orator Std. The first strapline uses Century.

The second masthead uses Almaz. The second strapline uses Social Media.

The third masthead uses Sitka. The third strapline uses Eras Light ITC.

While I like the formatting of the masthead and strapline in example 3, I don't think the fonts fit the identity that I am trying to create for my magazine. Similarly, example 1 looks a little bland and the lettering seems too far apart but I like the idea of putting the strapline on top of the masthead. Out of my 3 concepts I like example 2 the most- from the font to the placement of the strapline.